What disease do my tropical fish have?
July 6, 2008 by admin
Filed under Questions and Answers
Hi,
I recently bought some new fish to add to my tank, the fish have been in the tank for 4 days now and have been very active, i noticed last night that the tail on my fighter fish was looking a bit ragged, but this morning I have awoken to my fighter fish’s tail almost gone, the fins seem to be around the bone structure only, My bristlenose catfish also, no dorsal fin (he is dead) and my small neon tetras seem to also have rugged fins, but a white patch on the abdoman. I understand this could be fin rot, but would like an expert fish keepers oppinion.
Thanks xox
I checked with the man in the pet shop and he said it was fine to mix them, tbh the fighter fish was in a tank with catfish… im sure its a disease xxx
I have a 60L tank, with 1 Fighter Fish, 3 Dalmation Mollies and 9 Neon Tetras and now 2 bristle nose cat fish, My tank temp is 31, and p.h is 6.2. xxx
I have had my tank up and running for almost 3 years, before this i kept 2 angelfish, but they both died around 2 weeks ago at a few days apart, i carried out a 50% water change and added water coditioner and stress zyme app 10 days before adding new fish.
Hey, U are not supposed to keep fighter fish together, hence then name, they fight each other to the death! Its 1 male fighter fish to every 3 females and even then it can be risky! sorry xxx
Siamese… He isnt in the tank with any fin nippers or other fish with long flowing tails
Create a video blog…instantly.
Tribute to Michael Jackson on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 2:18 pm
Fighter fish killer Catfish :[
That happened when I got 2 fighter fish
I was young so I put them in the same tank
Noooo good things happened
catx on Thu, 10th Jul 2008 4:31 am
What is you exact set up and what fish species do you have exactly?
It sounds as though you’ve added some mean fin-nippers that have reeked havoc with your other fish and caused further bacteria infections. In the meantime do a partial water change and add anti-bacterial medication. White fungus can be a secondary problem on wounds.
edit: Pet stores lie if they think they’re going to make a sale, what is the exact set up and species of fish you have?
If the new fish you had were the Bristlenose, a Betta and 2 Neons, then was your tank cycled before hand? If not it could well have led to a water quality problem which has resulted in severe fin rot. What are you water chemistry readings?
Pleccy on Fri, 11th Jul 2008 2:27 pm
Fin rot is usually caused by the bacteria Aeromonas and Pseudomonas. Typical symptoms include ragged fins, often with a white, fluffy edge. If left untreated other problems can arise including secondary fungal infections (Saprolegnia or Columnaris).
There are several causes of this problem including fin-nipping, poor water quality and overstocking. Could you provide some details on the tank size, filtration type (and whether or not the filter has been cycled) and the water parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate).
=] =D =P =l >=[ on Sun, 13th Jul 2008 4:55 pm
Happened to me!!!!!!!!!! I got 2 siamese fighting fish and the both died :O
Navin on Tue, 15th Jul 2008 10:17 pm
Preventing Fin Rot
Keep stress low.
A stressed out fish is a fish with a lowered immune system. Provide hiding places, plants, and the proper water parameters particular to the fish species you keep. Also allow your fish to have a suitable day/night cycle (turn the lights off at night).
Maintain good water quality.
In addition to a filter with good biological media (I prefer Marineland Bio-wheel filter systems) you MUST do monthly water changes of 25-30%. This will keep ammonia and nitrite at safe levels. If you keep large predators, goldfish or koi, I recommend doing bi-monthly water changes.
Make sure all fish are compatible.
As mentioned before, fin rot is generally a secondary infection. Be careful not to keep nippy fish in with docile fish. The nippy fish will take chunks out of their fins, stress out the fish, and provide a nice breeding ground for fin and tail rot causing bacteria. If this is happening, promptly remove the aggressor. Research your fish before you buy.
Don’t overcrowd the aquarium.
A good rule of thumb is to keep one square inch of fish per gallon of water. Keep in mind, it may take several smaller fish (neons, rasboras,etc) to make a square inch. If you keep goldfish or koi, switch it to two square inches of fish per gallon. Overcrowding can cause undue stress for fish and sometimes make relatively peaceful fish get a bit nippy.
qwertylol42 on Thu, 17th Jul 2008 12:20 am
when u say fighter fish, do u mean bettas or siamese fighting fish? if so, then the MALE species should NEVER be kept with most species of fishes..ESCPECIALLY those with long flowy fins and tails, including guppies, swordtails, angels and OTHER MALE BETTAS..
Turtle in a box!! on Fri, 18th Jul 2008 4:21 pm
It sounds like fin rot to me, it is very common in a community aquarium such as yours. Usually a result of enviornmental stress such as dirty water, bullying and so on. Also can be caused by consuming dead or dying fish in your tank or open water ulsers.
If you have some sort of quarantine tank put the infected fish into it to avoid any spreading of the bacteria.
You can add fin rot medication to your tank which can be obtained from most pet stores. It should never be givin in low doses over a long period of time as the bacteria will become immune and and the medication wont work. (Follow the instructions on the bottle!)
Usual finrot symptoms include, Rotting fins, loss of appetite, sluggishness and laying on the tank bottom.
Hope iv hepled somewhat!! Good luck!
(P.S. Early detection is vital, beacause if its left untreated, it can result in other infections such as, septicemia, which is almost impossible to treat and will probably result in the death of your fish.)
Maffias Angel on Tue, 22nd Jul 2008 2:11 am
I’m not an expert on fish, but from experience I’ve found that when their fins become ragged and torn it’s usually due to a bad mix of fish, which causes them to fight and damage each others fins. This may not be the case, but it is the most likely. I’d read up on some of the fish you have together and see if you can source the problem that way. Good luck, hope you solve it soon!